“Technological progress is humanity’s sole hope for saving itself.” – Freeman Dyson
Automation and industrial processes are two technologies that evolved in the twentieth century that have aggravated the issue of climate change. Can data and digital technologies in the twenty-first century help us overcome this problem?
Leading businesses understand that reaching sustainability goals necessitates a complete approach to change, and management teams must guarantee that innovative technology and digital thinking are available. As a result, countries have devised a variety of plans and goals to make the globe more sustainable by 2030.
Opportunities to accomplish these aims and objectives have grown due to the rapid advancement of technology, to the point that technology is now used as a developmental tool in and of itself. The proliferation of ICTs and increased global connectivity, according to the Sustainable Development Agenda, hold great promise for advancing human rights, closing the digital divide, and establishing knowledge-based societies across a range of industries, including energy and health.
This article provides a deep understanding of how technology can play a vital role in enhancing sustainable development. We will see how modern technological innovations can be a key factor in promoting economic growth, protecting the environment, and enhancing social justice.
Technology, an ally of science and innovation:
Technology, along with science and innovation, plays a crucial role in achieving development by producing, disseminating, and applying knowledge to assess challenges and find solutions based on evidence. Science seeks to collect knowledge in a methodical manner, whereas technology seeks to apply that knowledge to achieve a specific purpose, and innovation seeks to adopt new techniques for creating and consuming goods and services based on technology, as well as improving economic and social systems.
Modern means, such as technology, science, and innovation, can help developing countries accomplish their long-term goals of growth and development. Technology improves life and work in a variety of ways, including increased access to information, improved healthcare, education, and other elements of life.
The Trend Towards Sustainable Development Goals
There are three potential ways in which we can utilize technology to achieve sustainable development goals and create a better world:
- Substitution: This approach involves using technology to entirely replace manual processes, thereby enhancing efficiency and reducing waste. For example, with the use of digital signatures, processes can be improved and reliance on paper documents can be minimized.
- Enhancement: Technological enhancement processes rely on data usage and automation to make certain operations more efficient. This includes the application of optimization algorithms in production processes, leading to increased productivity and reliability.
- Redesign: Redesigning entails using technology to renovate a product or service, thus creating a new model characterized by efficiency and innovation. In some cases, this may involve providing individuals access to products that contribute to environmental challenges, such as privately-owned cars, which constitute a significant portion of air pollution and resource consumption. Instead of purchasing a new car, individuals can access shared transportation services or multi-purpose vehicles.
Emerging Technologies: Definition and Contribution to Sustainable Development
Emerging technologies are modern technologies that are rapidly evolving and increasingly appearing in various fields. They include digital technology, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, virtual reality, augmented reality, 3D printing, Internet of Things (IoT), renewable energy, biotechnology, nanotechnology, and many other advancements.
These technologies are characterized by innovative capabilities that open up new horizons for sustainable development in various sectors such as medicine, agriculture, industry, transportation, entertainment, education, environment, and more. Emerging technologies play a crucial role in driving scientific, economic, and social progress and are an integral part of the innovations shaping the future.
Despite the numerous benefits offered by technology, it also has a negative impact on sustainable development, such as resource depletion, increased energy consumption, and environmental pollution. However, the use of databases, IoT, artificial intelligence, and cloud storage services can help achieve sustainability by effectively identifying and addressing potential negative impacts.
Is sustainable development solely about environmental aspects?
Sustainable development is more than just the environment; it also covers economic and social aspects. Technology must play an important role in improving all three areas. To achieve environmental and economic sustainability, the major emphasis should be on social sustainability.
This entails encouraging people to adopt sustainable activities like recycling and decreasing water and energy usage. There are several tools that allow people to manage these issues. For example, smart lighting systems are employed in certain areas where people are present, and when they depart, the lights turn out automatically. Similarly, smart cooling and heating technologies keep temperatures at particular levels throughout the day, lowering energy consumption and adding to overall sustainability.
Here are the key areas in which technology can contribute to creating a sustainable future:
- Poverty Alleviation: Despite progress, 700 million people, roughly 10% of the world’s population, still suffer from extreme poverty. In Africa, for example, many live on less than $1.90 per day. Providing digital financial services to low-income individuals and offering low-cost communication technologies in marginalized communities can open up new markets, create job opportunities, and provide income sources to help individuals and families escape poverty.Additionally, it can provide security and support networks to improve long-term livelihoods.While access to digital financial services contributes to poverty alleviation, 1.4 billion people worldwide still lack bank accounts, necessitating further efforts to expand financial inclusion to rural areas and reduce gender gaps in bank account ownership
- Food Security: Hunger remains one of the world’s most pressing challenges, with an estimated 670 million people expected to continue experiencing hunger by 2030. However, technology can empower farmers to adopt sustainable practices that help improve plant disease control, reduce costs, and optimize water and energy consumption. This can be achieved through the use of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, sensors, drones, and more, making agriculture smarter, more efficient, and effective. Consequently, it improves working conditions for farmers and enhances rural communities.
- Improving Individual Health: The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a new paradigm shift in healthcare, as medical services have transcended traditional facility and building boundaries, making telemedicine possible thanks to technology and modern techniques. Such advancements contribute to disease prediction, improving patient interaction, and enabling the collection and analysis of accurate health information through the assistance of artificial intelligence.
- Education: 773 million people worldwide face a shortage in basic reading and writing skills. Before the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, over 264 million children were out of school, according to UNESCO estimates. The pandemic highlighted the importance of the internet in maintaining the continuity of education and achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of “Education for All,” as well as enhancing lifelong learning opportunities. To address these challenges, technology has evolved to provide remote learning opportunities, with successful global experiences witnessing the application of digital transformation in distance education in a smart and flexible manner using artificial intelligence technologies.
- Addressing Environmental Challenges: According to World Bank estimates, environmental challenges such as drought and land degradation pose significant impediments to achieving sustainable development. Technology emerges as a viable answer to these difficulties, helping to create renewable energy sources and promote the transition to a low-carbon economy. These technological solutions have the potential to reduce global carbon emissions by up to 15% by 2030.
To sum up, a plethora of research has indicated that technology is a vital component in raising awareness of environmental concerns, optimising resource management, and improving environmental performance. This entails encouraging energy efficiency and combating desertification. It is true that technology may help achieve sustainable development, but responsible use is needed to make sure that everyone gains from it without suffering negative effects. Therefore, in order to guarantee that technology is used in a way that simultaneously supports economic growth, social welfare, and environmental protection, policymakers, public and private corporations, social entrepreneurs, and individuals must collaborate.
